Graduate engineering degree program to be offered at Tech

Kris Keffer's career plan is not certain, but he is sure it will involve mechanical or electrical engineering.

The West Texas A&M University student would need to go to Texas Tech in Lubbock or another school to earn a graduate degree in engineering.

But that's about to change.

BWXT Pantex, Texas Tech University, WT and Amarillo Economic Development Corp. announced Monday a graduate engineering studies program. Classes will begin in January at Texas Tech Medical Center in Amarillo.

"Right now it's not feasible to drive back and forth to Texas Tech," Keffer said. "I'm going to be interested in this program."

The graduate engineering studies program will offer an interdisciplinary master of science in engineering with a minor in engineering management, and a master of business administration with a concentration in engineering management.

"The combination of business and engineering really are tremendous assets to each other," said William Marcy, dean of the Texas Tech University College of Engineering.

The organizations will share funding, faculty members and teaching facilities.

Employers in the region will benefit from local students tackling a graduate engineering degree, WT President Russell Long said.

The pool of local engineers will increase, and they will possibly look toward Pantex for employment, BWXT Pantex General Manager Dennis Ruddy said.

As the program expands, WT and Tech will offer an undergraduate engineering program. The classes will be available in the fall semester of 2003, Long said.

"It's still in the planning stages," Marcy said. "Undergraduate programs are more difficult to start because of accreditation issues."

However, graduate students like Keffer who are interested in the program should apply to Texas Tech University.

"This truly is a momentous day," Mayor Trent Sisemore said. "All of these people have come together for a common goal."